General RPE (not examined

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

The full General RPE programme includes topics such as:

• The Meaning & Purpose of Life; • Soul, Mind & Body; • Life after Death; • The Problem of Evil & Suffering; • Medical Ethics: Euthanasia & Abortion; • Social Justice; • New Religious Movements; • Approaches to Morality; • The Ethics of Social Media; • Traditional and Modern Spirituality; • and Meditation & Mindfulness. • Deconstructing and solving a range of complex problems;

• Developing research, analytical and presentational skills; • Formulating questions effectively;

• Fostering the ability to work methodically and accurately;

• Honing the ability to interpret and synthesise information;

• Improving individual writing skills, accurate referencing and the construction of a reasoned argument; • Refining the ability to understand the meaning of written sources;

• Sharpening the independence of mind and the ability to think critically.

General RPE is a programme for all pupils not completing the IGCSE course in Religion, Philosophy & Ethics. Pupils will attend one timetabled lesson each week and have the opportunity to explore traditional and contemporary religious, spiritual, philosophical and ethical thinking in a non-examined format.

A breadth of religious and non-religious perspectives will be explored throughout the programme; pupils will be expected to participate in an objective and considerate manner. It is anticipated that General RPE will benefit students in a number of ways. These include:

• Cultivating empathy, the ability to understand people and take on board others’ views;